Tobacco feed for cigarette machines



May 11, 1943. c. ARELT TOBACCO FEED FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Filed May 28,1937 -3 Sheets-Sheet -l INVENTQR BY Czar/65% Mun May 11, 1943. c. ARELT,TOBACCO FEED FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES INVENTQSR (Zarles fire]? -3Sheets-Sheet 2 I TTORNIEY C. ARELT TOBACCO FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES May11,1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .v n nw I INVENTOR BY mar/e5 JZ e/f I A'r'ronilv'Patented May 11, 1943 UNITE-D STATES TOBACCO FEED FOR CIGARETTE MACHINESCharles Arelt, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignor to American Machine &Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 28 1937,Serial No. 145,236

23 Claims. (01. 131-109) This invention relates to tobacco feeds forcontinuous rod cigarette machines, its main object being to providemeans for improving the delivery of the carded tobacco into a more evenand uniform stream than has heretofore been attainable,

since it is considered that the uniformity of this tobacco on aconveyorand preventing access thereto of external forces which wouldtend toaffect the uniformity of this layer.

It is an additional object to provide for'the substantial elimination oflateral air currents in a tobacco feed mechanism by furnishing memberscooperating with a tobacco distributing'surface for effecting thispurpose.

The invention also consists in the provision of a tobacco distributingwall or surface, and mecha-' nism for adjusting it to and from a rotaryfeeding element to obtain the most efficient position therefor. It isafurther object to also provide adjusting devices for raising andlowering this wall with respect to the layer feeding conveyor to obtainthe most beneficial feeding of a tobacco stream thereto.

The invention also includes a novel winnowing device in which tobacco isprojected in a shower onto an inclined wall or surface which carries aplate for directing heavyparticlesseparated out from theshower into areceptacle, and inwhich the heavy particles of the shower tend to workup the surface onto said plate while'the remainder ofthe tobacco slidesdown thesurface into the cigarette tobacco conveying mechanism.

Th invention also consists in the provision of winnovring means whichseparate part of the heavy undesired tobacco particles by direct re,aecticn from a continuous tobacco shower projected upon a distributingplate and anotherpart by contact with the plate and sliding movement upsad piate and into a receiving receptacle.

In order to provide for guidance of the stream oi tobacco issuing fromthe tobacco distributing surface, means coacting with said surface arepreferabiy aifixed thereto for fulfilling this pur pose.

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A further object is to provide a device cooperat-- ing with the conveyorfor forming a substantially closed passageway of a gradually increasingcross section for guiding and feeding a layer of tobacco to a compactingand feeding mechanism.

The invention also consists in'the provision of a vibratory conveyor forfeeding a layer of tobacco from an inclined receiving surface to acompacting device which feeds the compacted 1ayer to a separating devicefor removing sections of tobacco therefrom and directing them in timedrelation to the movement of a cigarette paper web into a rod formingmechanism. r

With these and other objects notspecifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists of 'certain constructions and combinations which willbe hereinafter fully described, and then specificallyset forth in theclaims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which the same reference characters designatejthe same or.;l -ikeFig.1 is a sectional side elevation of the-im proved tobacco feed,incorporating the various features of the invention; a I

Fig. 2 is a partial-sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing theconstruction and arrangement of the vertical division plates, andadjusting means therefor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the tobacco take-offdevice, online 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation; partly in cross-section, on lines 3-4 and4'-'--4' of Fig. 3, showing the reciprocating feeding mechanism of thetobacco take-off-device;

Fig. 5 is'a front elevation-on line 55 of Fig. 3; showing a pickerroller associated with the take-- off device; l

Fig. 6 is-a sectional side elevation of a modified type of deviceembodying a rotary tobacco de-, livery element; w 1 4 Fig. '7 is afrontelevationof the same, partly in cross-section, on line 1-4 of Fig. 6; vi r Fig. 8 is a front elevation on line 8-8 of Fig. 6,- showingthe meansfor sealing thesides of the rotarytake-ofi device; 1 Fig. 9 is anenlarged side elevation on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, showing the action of therotary tobacco delivery; and I Fig. 10 is a partial front elevationtaken across the conveying mechanism showing a modified arrangement of alayer leveling device comprising combs mounted above the vibratoryconveyor.-

Referring to Fig. 1, the tobacco 'T in the feed chamber Ii! is carriedbya feed belt ll into the carding pins of a continuously rotating feeddrum I 2. After the surplus tobacco is removed from the feed drum byrefuser drums I3 and M, which are kept clear by fans I5, the tobaccolayer T is discharged by a fast-revolving picker roller l6 onto theblades of a rotary fan I! which throws it against an inclined surface orwall l8. To prevent spilling of tobacco, the pulley IQ of feed belt H,the feed drum l2, and the fan H are partly surrounded by a concave whichseals the bot tom of the feed chamber H].

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, surface l8 comprises a plate which iscorrugated or otherwise formed with down-running channels to preventlateral movement of tobacco passing thereover, and is divided intoseparate compartments by vertical division plates 2|, so that aircurrents produced by the motion of the carding drums, picker roller andfans will either be' held at a minimum or eliminated in order not todisturb the even distribution of the tobacco, and the latter will rundown the plate inevenly spaced uniform streams T". Part of theseparation of undesirable heavy particles is effected by the fan llwhich throws them clear of plate l8. Other unwanted heavy particles areremoved when the tobacco T" strikes plate |8 on the upward part of itsprojection, and these heavy particles, stems and the like move up theplate and are deposited on a plate |8d secured thereto and directed intoa receptacle or stem box 46 which is removably mounted in wall ID of thetobacco chamber. This results in a more efficient'separationthanheretofore obtainable. At the bottom of plate l8, a cross-shield 22 maybe adjustably mounted to extend over the entire width of the plate, notonly to lessen the effect of air currents'on the tobacco projected onthe Wall l8 but also localize and direct the air stream beneath theplate 22 along conveyor 23 on which the tobacco is formed into a layer Tas it travels along so that the directed air current has a feedingeffect on the tobacco falling from plate l8 onto conveyor 23. It is tobe noted that shield 22 can be swung about its supports 22a to adjustthe position of its lowermost edge with respect to'the conveyor 23 toobtain the most desirable air pressure on the'stream of tobacco issuingfrom plate l8. When the plate 22 is omitted, the stream of tobacco movesdirectly from plate l8 onto the conveyor 23.

' In the embodiment shown, conveyor 23 consists of 'a'plate supportedby'resilient strips 24 from a casting 25 which is resiliently attached ta bracket 26 carried'by'the frame'21 ofthe cigation set up by thevibrating conveyor table 23, with respect to plate 36, also causes thetobacco to be compacted in the direction of feed of the tobacco towardschannel 4|. This is due to the rapid diagonal vibrations of the table 23as it travels the tobacco towards the channel beneath the plate 36.Plate 36 which also acts to hold the tobacco layer upon the conveyor ismounted with its free end diverging slightly from the conveyor (Fig. 1)in order that the tobacco will not choke the passageway, and will havefree movement to the compacting and feeding members. This plate issupported on a cross member 38 by a bar 31 and suitable screwsadjustably secured to brackets 39 fastened to the sides 1 0a of thetobacco chamber. The brackets are adjustable by means of slots formedtherein so that the height of the plate 36 above the conveyor 23 can beregulated to produce the proper thickness of layer as the tobacco ispropagated by the vibration of the plate.

In a modified form of the invention as shown in Fig. 10, thinlongitudinal strips or combs 36a are adjustably mounted in a mannersimilar to plate 36. These combs have an action similar to plate 36 andalso tend to prevent crumpling of the layer and to maintain a uniformlight pressure thereon due to their slight downward deflection from thepoint ofsupport.

The conveyor 23 discharges the tobacco layer T into a channel abuttingits free'end and forming a continuation of the same, the said channelpreferably being formed by a casting 4| on which side plates 42 aremounted near its ends, Figs. 3 and 4. To prevent tobacco from beingspilled in entering the channel, resilient strips 43, Figs. 3 and 4, areattached to the end flanges 23' of conveyor 23. These strips extendbeyond the end of the conveyor and engage slidbrator consistingof amagnet 3H which is fasably with the inner faces of the side plates 42,thereby sealing the'movable tobacco forwarding device.

- Above the channel 4| and coacting with the same is suspended acontinuously-moving tobacco forwarding device indicated generally as F,which covers the entire available width of the channel. This device,according to the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, consists of twomembers 44 and 45, one within the other, the outer member 44 being madein two parts bolted together on lugs 46 to permit the insertion of theother. The members 44 and by means of bushings 41 are slidable oneccentric sleeves 48 and 49 mounted on a shaft 50 supported inadjustably mounted bearings 5| and keyed thereby as byv keys 48a, 49a,the eccentrics 48 of member 44 being set at opposition to the eccentrics49 of member 45 so that each'member is in its uppermost position whenthe other is in its downmost, as the shaft 50 is turned from the driveof the tobacco feed. The bearings 5| are mounted for vertical adjustmentwith brackets 84 in which they are journaled. These brackets areprovided with elongated'slots which enable them to be adjustably mountedon the machine frame. By means of this mechanism, the space between thefeeding members 'can be accurately controlled. The members 44 and 45 areprovided with downwardly projecting serrated or otherwise roughenedfingers, the fingers 52 of member 44 interlocking with the fingers 53 ofmember 45 along the entire width of channel 4|. The member 44 has' lugs54 by which-it is pivoted to arms 55, and member 45 has similar lugs 55passing through slots in the shell of member 44 by which it is pivotedto arms 51, the arms 55 and '51 being swingably suspended from a shaft58 supported by brackets 59 mounted on the frame of the tobacco feed andprovided with elongated slots which allow for desired adjustments. The

concave by the amount of the eccentricity of the sleeves 48 and 49,thereby producing a continual intermittent controlled motion of thetobacco, which during this forward motion is held in place laterally bythe closely spaced fingers of the propelling members.

As the advancing tobacco layer protrudes beyond the forward edge ofchannel M, a separating roller 6| mounted on a shaft 62 within thedelivery chute removes sections from the advancing layer edge'anddirects them upon the web P which is being carried through the machineona tape belt 63 supported by a bracket 64 on the cigarettemachine frame21, Fig. 1

While several types of devices may be used for separating portions oftobacco from the advancing layer as itissues over the edge of concave M,in Fig. l, a roller 5| provided with a bar I3 is designed to removesections in tinied relation to the movement of the layer over theconcave edge and cigarette web P, with the net result that the tobaccois directed onto the web P to form a filler made up more or less oflamifiations. Thus, if roller 6| rotates once for every cigarette lengthincrement of web feed, which is about two and three quarter inches, and;the width of the tobacco chamber is about three feet, there will beapproximatelyfourteen separate cutoff sections of the layer T' fallingonto the traveling web before it moves to the rod former. This feedtends to increasel 'the uniformity of rod cross section since thetobacco falling from the edge of concave 4! is not torn apart and brokenup, but maintains substantially the characteristics it possessed when itwas separated from the layer. The delivery chute is formed by astationary inclined wall 65 attached to a metal strip 56 mounted uponconcave 4 I [and by a movable wall 51 mounted on hinge blocks 88 pivotedto lugs 59 (Fig. l) fastened to bracket 54. The sides of the chute areclosed byside plates I5 fitted between the end walls 65 and 51. Roller@I is driven in timed rotation to the layer advancing mechanism 44, 45through sprocket TII fixed to shaft I52, sprocket 12 being mounted onshaft 58 and conventional chains trained over said sprockets.

In order to obtain the best distribution of tobacco on the surface I8,and effect the most efficient separation of heavy particles from thestream of tobacco projected thereon. it has .been' found desirable toplace the wall I8, and plates 2I in several locations in the chamber inorder to determine the position which will give the best results. Thesurface, plates and shield 22 can be removably fixed to thewalls of thechamber ormay be provided with adjusting devices which will allow themto be readily moved for the-purpose above mentioned.

One form of adjusting mechanism which can be used is that shown in Figs.1 and 2, in which wall I8 is provided with end lugs I8aformed. withelongated slots I88. Bolts I812 extend through slots I38, cooperate withlugs ISa and by means of slots IBc allow the plate to be adjusted to andstantially, horizontally and'vertically. Slots IBs in lugs I8a allowplate I8 and its attached elements to be adjusted vertically to and fromconveyor 23. In order to provide for the adjustment of plates 2I, rods2Ia are secured thereto, which rods are movable in slots 2 Ib'formed inthe side walls IIla of the tobacco chamber and are secured in adjustedposition by wing nuts 2Ic. Shield 2?. is also mounted for adjustment onbolt 22a movable in slots 22b formed in side walls Illa and is held inadjusted position by similar fastening means. In Fig. 1, the extremehorizontal positions of wall I8 and plates 2! are denoted by numerals I8and 2I'. The uppermost position or limit of adjustment of Wall I8 isreached when lugs I8a occupy positions IBa' at which time plate I8d ispositioned at I8d' and plate I Be is located at I8e. The other limit ofadjustment of guard plate I8e, which is attached to and forms a part ofwall I8 is shown in dotted lines at I86" when plate I8d is located atI8d". By these means it can be seen that any desired on the chambersides to cover them, and thereby eliminate any detrimental efifect uponthe dis tribution of tobacco.

Obviously, other Ways of supporting the plates and shield abovedescribed might be resorted to. For instance, if it should be found thatthe cross bars I8b, 2Ia and 22a interfered with the proper distributionof tobacco upon the surface I8 they could be removed entirely andothermeans of support used. Plates 2| could be supported from the top bya cross support, and wall I8 could be secured at its sides by means ofscrews driven into the walls of the chamber. In a similar manner shield22, if used, could be mounted on the walls of the chamber.

If a picker roll BI is used in conjunction with the movable layerfeeding member, it may also be turned by a sprocket II on its shaft 62through a chain driven from sprocket I2 on shaft 50 and is made togradually engage the entire edge of channel M, at least once in everycomplete movement of the member, by arranging its pins'13 overlappinglyin spiral formation. For this purpose, the pins in each axial row areset at a distance approximately equal to one-half the num ber of rowstimes the diameter of the pins, and the pins in successive rows areplaced onehalf of their diameter ahead of those in the preceding row.For instance, the picker roller shown in Fig. 5 has six rows of pinsaround its circumference, the pins are set three pin diameters apartaxially in each row, and the successive rows are advanced by one-halfpindiameter in the axial direction. In order to position the pins moreeasily and effect the most desirable arrangement, they are mounted inkeys '54- extending over the entire length of the roller, which areremovably located in grooves or slots formed in the circumference ofroll BI. The shaft 62 is supported by bearings 15.

In Figs. 6 to 9, a modification of the improved tobacco feeding deviceis shown and designated generally as R. Here, the channel M is madeconcave and has a rotary take-off acting in conjunction therewith. Onthe shaft 50, which is driven by a gear I6, hubbed disks 11 having aplurality of radially projecting fingers II are so mounted that annulargrooves I8 are formed in order that the pins 82 can enter them, getbehind the tobacco and eject it into the chute B5, B1. The disks T! areassembled from both ends of an angularly set key 19 and are drawn upagainst a central collar 80 by nuts 81.

With the grooves 18 of the compacting and feeding roller in registerwith the pins 82 of the picker roller 83 which inthis case are set inseparate circles at distances apart of one diskwidth but with the pins amultiple of the diskwidth apart in each axial row, there being twice asmany pins in each circle as there are disks between consecutive pins ineach row. Thus, in the picker roller shown in Figs. 6 and 7, there aresix pins in each groove registering pin circle, and the pins in eachaxial row are three disks apart, making a total of eighteen rows of pinsaround the circumference. When in operation,

the fingers T! of the take-ofi roller grip the tobacco-layer advanced bythe vibrating plate 23, Fig. 9, and carry it into the path of the pins82 which enter the grooves 18 and, owing to their spiral formation,successively cross the entire surface of roller 11 and remove thesections sepa rated from the advancing layer and direct them into chute65, 61, as mentioned hereinabove. Other appropriate pin combinationsmight be used if found desirable. M

The sealing of channel 4| shown in Fig. 8, is similar to that of feedingmechanism F, the ,extension strips 43 of plate 23 engaging with the sideplates 42 of the channel at both ends of roller 11.

. The several means referred to may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustratethe invention is but one of the many possible concrete embodiments ofthe same. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to theprecise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tobacco feeding device for a cigarette machine provided withspaced sides, a flat corru gated stationary tobacco distributing surfaceextending across said machine from side to side thereof, means spacedfrom said surface for projecting a continuous shower of tobacco againstsaid surface, said corrugations preventing lateral movement of saidtobacco, a single inclined conveyor of a width corresponding to that ofsaid surface positioned beneath said surface for receiving tobacco in acontinuous stream directly from said surface, and meansfor impartingdiagonal vibratory movement. to said conveyor to advance said stream asa continuous layer of undiminished width intosaid machine.

2. In a tobacco feeding device for a cigarette machine, a tobaccodistributing surface, means for impelling tobacco in a continuous showerupon said surface, and separating out heavy particles, a receptacle, aplate secured to said surface for directing heavy particles into saidreceptacle, part of said particles being thrown clear of said surfaceand part moving up said surface and onto said plate by virtue of theirmomentum, means for adjusting the location of said plate to control thequantity of particles moving into said receptacle, a conveyor mountedbeneath said surface and receiving tobacco in a continuous stream fromsaid surface and forming a continuous layer, and means for vibratingsaid conveyor for feeding saidcontinuous layer thereover along the axisof the resulting studded roller with diagonal vibratory movements andcompacting said layer longitudinally in the direction of feed as aresult of the'vibration of said conveyor.

3. A cigarette machine tobacco feed comprising a resiliently mountedconveyor, a source of supply of tobacco, a distributing surfacepositioned to-receive a continuous shower of tobacco from said sourceand allow it to fall freely in a continuous stream onto said conveyorand form a layer thereon, means for cuting increments of tobacco fromthe face of said stream, and means for vibrating said conveyor to feedtobacco in a continuous layer to said cutting means.

' 4. A cigarette machine tobacco feed comprising a' resiliently mountedconveyor, a source of supply of tobacco, a distributing surfacepositioned to receive a continuous shower of tobacco from said sourceand allow it to fall freely in a continuous stream onto said conveyorand form a layer thereon, a stationary device supported be low andadjacent said surface for guiding said tobacco onto said conveyor, meansfor moving said conveyor to feed tobacco in a continuous layer to saidmachine, and means for cutting increments of tobacco from the front edgeof said layer. Y

5. A cigarette machine tobacco feed comprising a resiliently mountedtable inclined at an acute angle with the horizontal conveyor, a membermounted above said conveyor table and forming a substantially closedinclined passageway therewith, a source of supply of tobacco, adistributing surface positioned to receive a continuous shower oftobacco from said source and allow it to fall in a continuous streamonto said conveyor table and form a layer thereon beneath said member, adevice supported below and adjacent said surface for guiding saidtobacco into said passageway, and means for vibrating said conveyortable to feed tobacco in a continuous layer through said passageway tosaid machine.

6. In a tobacco feed mechanism, in combination, a tobacco conveyorpositioned at an acute angle with the horizontal for advancing acontinuous layer of tobacco, a tobacco distributing surface locatedabove said conveyor and operative to direct a continuous layer formingtobacco stream towards said conveyor, means for feeding tobacco from asource of supply comprising a rotary fan for throwing a continuousshower of tobacco onto said surface, and a stationary plate positionedbetween said surface and conveyor and constructed and arranged forguiding tobacco onto said conveyor and directing an air current beneathsaid plate to propel tobacco along said conveyor.

7.-A tobacco feed mechanism comprising an inclined tobacco distributingplate, a rotary fan for throwing tobacco fed from a source of supplyonto said plate, a conveyor extending upwardly at an acute angle withthe horizontal beneath said plate receiving tobacco in a continuoussubstantially uniform stream from said surface, devices for separatingconveyor-wide increments from the stream of tobacco advanced by saidconveyor, a member spaced above said conveyor and forming therewith apassageway of gradually increasing cross section in the direction offeed of said tobacco for holding said tobacco on said conveyor andgathering said tobacco forming said stream adjacent said devices, andmeans located adjacent said conveyor and surface for receiving saidstream from said surface and directing said stream into said passageway.

8. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, a tobacco distributing surface, aplurality of relative wide outstanding spaced members arranged at rightangles with respect to said surface to prevent lateral tobacco movementthereon, and means for adjusting said members to and from said surface.

9. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, a tobacco distributing surface, aplurality of wide spaced plate members arranged at right angles withrespect to said surface to prevent lateral tobacco movement thereon,means for adjusting said members to and from said surface, said meansincluding movable bars mounting said members, and locking devicescooacting with said bars to secure them in adjusted position.

10. In a tobacco feeding mechanism, a conveyor mounted at an acute angleto the horizontal, a tobacco distributing surface mounted to receive acontinuous shower of tobacco and direct it in a stream towards saidconveyor, a member cooperating with said conveyor and spaced therefromtending to prevent disturbance of the uniformity of the stream andguiding said tobacco to the conveyor, a plate positioned above saidconveyor and at an angle thereto to form a passageway with saidconveyor, said plate being more distant from the conveyor at thedischarge end than at the entrance to said passageway, and means foroperating said conveyor to feed said tobaccostream as a continuous layerthrough the passageway and compact it in the direction off-feed alongsaid passageway solely by the movements of said conveyor.

11. In a cigarette machine, the combination' with a channel and aconveyor, of a stationary tobacco feeding-surface spaced above saidconveyor and delivering a continuous stream of tobacco directly thereto,means for operating said conveyor to forward a continuous layer oftobacco to said channel in a plane inclined at an acute angle to thehorizontal solely as the result of the movements of said conveyor,mechanism cooperating with said channel for compressing and advancingsaid layer over said channel, a delivery chute, and a device forseparating stream-wide increments from the leading edge of said layer asit moves beyond said channel and directing said increments into saidchute.

12. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco feeding channel, means forforwarding a layer of tobacco to said channel, a device for compactingsaid .layer and feeding it through said channel, said device comprisinga plurality of relatively movable members operating with a curvilinearfeeding and pressing motion to, from and along said channel, and aseparating member for separating sections of said layer as it issuesfrom said channel.

13. A tobacco compacting and feeding mechanism comprising a pair ofinterfitting tubular members provided with a plurality of spacedinterfitting feeding surfaces, supports for said members, a shaftprojected through said members, cams fixed on said shaft and coactingwith said members for imparting alternate movement to each of saidmembers.

14. A tobacco compacting and feeding mechanism comprising a pair ofdevices provided with spaced interfitting members having tobaccoengaging faces, supports mounting said devices, and means for movingsaid devices alternately to move one set of members relatively to theother and effect a tobacco feed.

15. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a channel and aconveyor comprising a table inclined at an acute angle with thehorizontal constructed and arranged as the sole means for supporting andfeeding a layer of tobacco into said channel, of a device for vibratingsaid conveyor and compacting said layer and passing it through saidchannel to a point of discharge, said device comprising a movable memberprovided with a roughened tobacco engaging surface in direct engagementwith said layer of tobacco, means for moving said member to compact andfeed said layer, and means located adjacent said point for separatinguniform sections from the edge of said advancing compacted layer.

16. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a tobacco distributingwall, of means for projecting tobacco upon said wall, a channel, aconveyor comprising a vibratory table positioned at an acute angle withthe horizontal located beneath said wall and delivering a continuouslayer of tobacco to said channel, a rotary compacting and feeding membercomprising a plurality of spaced disks, said disks being provided withtobacco forwarding elements on their peripheries, located above andconcentric with said channel, and a picker roller having peripherallyspaced elements extending from said roller and operating between saiddisks and constructed and aranged to engage the top of the layer oftobacco moved forward by said member to remove sections of compactedtobacco from said member as it compacts said layer and advances ing aroller provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal grooves and aplurality of spaced circumferential grooves intersectioning saidlongitudnal grooves, a separating member having a plurality of means forentering said circumferential grooves for engaging the top of thetobacco in said circumferential grooves and ejecting lengths ofcompacted tobacco from said longitudinal grooves and directing them intosaid machine.

18. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco feed mechanism, a verticallyinclined tobacco distributing plate spaced from said mechanism, meansfor throwing a continuous shower of tobacco against said plate to selectdesirable tobacco from said shower, an inclined tobacco feeding tablelocated directly beneath said plate for receiving said selected tobaccofalling from said plate, tobacco compactors extending above a portion ofsaid table and located adjacent the lower end of said table, and meansfor vibrating said table to impart thereto vibratory motion transverselyof the plane of said table for feeding said selected tobacco in asubstantially uniform and continuous layer and compacting said layer inthe direction of travel as it advances to said compactors for furthercompacting thereby for delivery to said machine.

19. In a cigarette machine, a tobacco feed mechanism, a stationarytobacco distributing from, a plate spaced from said conveyor and m as aw h ith $01 s iel qeeqo and means 'for vibrating said conveyor to impartthereto diagonal feeding movement said canveyor'being' constructed anclarranged to iunctign as the sole tobaccofeeqing means'for aqvancingsaidstream of tobacco as a continuous layer.

ben'eath 'sai d plate intosaitl machine.

' 20JIn a tobacco feed for acigarette machine, a source of supply oftobacco, a conveyor for feeding a layer of tobacco to said machine, adistributing surface located above said conveyor, means locatedsubstantially opposite said surface for. tl'irdwing'a continuous tobaccoshower; upw bcn d' r a a sa mi in plate' carried by "and extendingrearwardly of said surface above said. conveyor, a plate lgcated fi' eiam er l de aid u i c fo qu rectingtobaccdonto said conveyor, and meansfor adjusting the position of; said first namecl plate and surfacerelative tov said conveyor 1 I 't a h ne w-fie eq q rec ivin a v 'i qeedat an acute angle, t lioiiz'bntai, elinea tat ona t9..- b'acco feed nf 99%? abov s d 201.1: via/6rv d l i lt filabils tream I acco o a i ii ie s er v ratin eid con: l 'd q wa w th sub tantiall di: agfinal v f fiqv l ents l li li 9. he lane f$5 i YQ f nflinl l sl layer 9. ai ltobaccii receivingi member, saiq conveyor; move; i f cliipicfiifi aitqb'eqq i th di cti n f df b i er 41? aid movement saidbdfivevorl ridev se nosi ip eed at; he

discharge end of said conveyor cooperatin with a WW x r i l m mber. t tu z en empa fi ad, e a d. l yer ov r sa d. membe '22, Infarigarettemachine, the combination 5- for, throwing tobacco fed from a source oilPRly 6 els ama ee ile tableiaelieed acute; eng ewi peripheralwgrooves.leceiee. abov and CQDQQIHPHQ with said channel, and; a r ller having aglurality of pins tially eq al ens-in j hedemhs i erq qqn t u te s andar nged; o nter s id gr v an e sage he top of. the ay r Qt tobacco andremove sec ions o comlgacted to a c r m} s d first: na e tel er it;furthercompacts said layer and advances it over said; concave.

23. A tobacco; feed mechanism comprisin an inclined tobacco,distributing plate, a rotary fan upwardly onto saigl plate, asingleconveyor, com-v sing a h ems nedb neath he; owermos 9 5. Q a d d s ribuin p at 9 ec v ng: o: asi s a n inuous s bst ntia ly ni-form treams mm;a snrl a et eans or mam ai q l a ns; or ai ta l o fewer saidstrearn in alayer-qversaid table. anq com pact n t n t e, dimctipnf -l e and m ans;located between and adjacentsaid conveyor; table anq surface fordirecting tobacco falling from said, surface onto said conveyor; table and forlso i ect ngar h r ur n s e era ed; by, said ran along said conveyor:tq. assist in the r nsp tati nf. same coh eon-

